Spirit clip

ABSTRACT

A spirit clip for hair that comprises a clip body that includes a pair of hinged-together clip elements having at least one tine for securing the clip body to a portion of hair. The spirit clip also includes a plurality of colored strands that are connected with the clip body. The colored strands may extend downwardly a predetermined distance from the clip body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to hair clips and more particularly, to a spirit clip that includes a plurality of colored strands that may be made from a material in a color to match the school or team that the person wearing it supports.

2. Related Art

Fans of athletic teams or schools often like to wear items that show support for their respective teams to different types of sporting events. Some traditional items that may be worn to sporting events include hats, shirts, pants, buttons and so forth. In addition, some fans like to take banners, signs, flags and other items to sporting events to show their support. More ambitious fans may even paint emblems or symbols on various parts of their body. At the present time, a device does not exist that will allow a fan to attach an article that shows support for a team to a portion of their hair.

A traditional hair clip generally includes a plurality of tines that are opened to attach the hair clip to a portion of hair by using fingers to open the tines. The hair clip is generally provided with a spring that is used to force the tines to remain in a closed position so that when opened, the spring forces the tines back toward the closed position. This allows the tines to securely grip the portion of hair that the hair clip is attached to. A need exists for a spirit clip that will allow a fan to attach strands of material formed in a school color to a portion of hair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention discloses a spirit clip that includes a clip body and a plurality of colored strands. The colored strands are preferentially connected with a lower portion of the clip body. The clip body may include a first clip element and a second clip element that may be held together with a pin. The pin may fit within apertures located in the first and second clip elements. The first and second clip elements, together with the pin, create a hinge that allows the clip body to move between an open and closed position. A spring may be included that is held in place by the pin. The spring may include an aperture that is sized to receive the pin. The spring secures the clip body to a portion of hair of the person wearing the spirit clip.

The spring may include engagement members that are placed in contact with a first handling portion and a second handling portion of the clip body. The engagement members of the spring force the spirit clip to remain in a closed position until force is applied to the first and second handling portions. When force is applied to the first and second handling portions, the clip body will move to an open position that allows at least one tine or tongue of the clip body to be placed around the portion of hair of the person who wears the spirit clip.

Once placed around the portion of hair, the first and second handling portions may be released which will cause the clip body to attempt to fully return to the closed position, thereby securing the clip body to the portion of hair. To remove the clip body from the portion of hair, force may be applied to the first and second handling portions, which will cause the clip body to move to the open position, thereby releasing the portion of hair that the tines were secured to. As such, the clip body may be secured to and removed from the portion of hair by applying force to the first and second handling portions.

Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view of the spirit clip.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the spirit clip.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the spirit clip.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the spirit clip.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the spirit clip.

FIG. 6 is a perspective back view of the spirit clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring collectively to FIGS. 1-6, the present invention discloses a spirit clip 10 that may be used by fans when attending sporting events as well as for any other suitable occasion. The spirit clip 10 includes a clip body 12 and a plurality of colored strands 14. As illustrated throughout the various figures, the colored strands 14 are preferentially connected with a lower portion of the clip body 12. The colored strands 14 may be connected with the clip body 12 using various connection mechanisms or adhesives such as glue, epoxy and so forth. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the colored strands 14 may be formed as part of or within the clip body 12 during the injection molding process in which the clip body 12 is formed.

The clip body 12 may include a first clip element 16 and a second clip element 18 that are held together with a pin 20. Although not clearly illustrated, the pin 20 fits within apertures located on the first clip element 16 and the second clip element 18. As such, the first and second clip elements 16, 18, together with the pin 20, create a hinge that allows the spirit clip 10 to be opened and closed. A spring 22 may be included that is held in place by the pin 20. The spring 22 may include an aperture that is sized to receive the pin 20. The spring 22 secures the clip body 12 to a portion of hair of the person wearing the spirit clip 10.

The spring 22 may include engagement members that are placed in contact with a first handling portion 24 and a second handling portion 26 of the clip body 12. The engagement members of the spring 22 force the spirit clip 10 to remain in a closed position until force is applied to the first and second handling portions 24, 26. When force is applied to the first and second handling portions 24, 26, the clip body 12 will move to an open position that allows at least one tine or tongue 28 of the clip body 12 to be placed around the portion of hair of the person who will be wearing the spirit clip 10.

Once placed around the portion of hair, the first and second handling portions 24, 26 may be released which will cause the clip body 12 to attempt to fully return to the closed position, thereby securing the clip body 12 to the portion of hair. To remove the clip body 12 from the portion of hair, force may be applied to the first and second handling portions 24, 26, which will cause the clip body 12 to move to the open position, thereby releasing the portion of hair that the tines 28 were secured to. As such, the clip body 12 may be secured to the portion of hair by applying force to the first and second handling portions 24, 26.

As set forth above, the preferred embodiment of the present invention discloses a fashion hair accessory that includes a claw type hair clip body 12 that is formed by hinged-together clip elements 16, 18 with interleaved tines 28. Numerous colored strands 14 are connected to the hair clip 12. The colored strands 14 may be made from several types of suitable material such as tinsel, tissue paper, plastic, cloth and so forth. The colored strands 14 may be attached to one end or the middle of the clip elements 16, 18 of the hair clip 12. In addition, the colored strands 14 may be attached to the inside or outside walls of the clip elements 16, 18 or both the inside and outside walls.

The clip elements 16, 18 may be joined at a hinged axis and may have gripping elements or tines 28 that are used to secure the hair clip 12 to the portion of hair. The colored strands 14 may be any length and may be guided over external surfaces of the clip elements 16, 18. The colored strands 14 may converge to a common point of connection on the clip elements 16, 18 of the hair clip 12. The colored strands 14 may be made from a material that has been colored to match the colors of a given school or team. In addition, various symbols, designs or words may also be added to the colored strands 14 to further indicate a team, school, saying, slogan and so forth. Although not specifically illustrated, charms, feathers, beads or any other suitable decorative piece may also be added as an attachment. These items may be connected to the colored strands 14 or the hair clip body 12.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. 

1. A spirit clip for hair, comprising: a clip body including a pair of clip elements each having at least one tine for securing the clip body to a portion of hair; and a plurality of colored strands connected with the clip body, wherein the colored strands extend downwardly a predetermined distance from the clip body.
 2. The spirit clip of claim 1, wherein the clip elements are hinged-together by a pin.
 3. The spirit clip of claim 2, wherein each of the clip elements includes a handling member.
 4. The spirit clip of claim 3, further comprising a spring connected with the pin and the clip body for applying force to the clip elements so that the tines may be connected to the portion of hair.
 5. The spirit clip of claim 1, wherein the colored strands include at least one symbol designating a respective team.
 6. The spirit clip of claim 1, wherein the colored strands are formed in a team color.
 7. The spirit clip of claim 1, further comprising an additional decorative item attached to the colored strands, wherein the additional item may be selected from a group of additional items including a charm, a feather and at least one bead.
 8. A spirit clip for hair, comprising: a clip body including a pair of hinged-together clip elements having at least one tine for securing the clip body to a portion of hair; and a plurality of colored strands connected with the clip body, wherein the colored strands extend downwardly a predetermined distance from the clip body.
 9. The spirit clip of claim 8, wherein the colored strands include at least one symbol designating a respective team.
 10. The spirit clip of claim 8, wherein the colored strands are formed in a team color.
 11. The spirit clip of claim 8, further comprising an additional item attached to the colored strands, wherein the additional item may be selected from a group of additional items including a charm, a feather and at least one bead.
 12. The spirit clip of claim 8, wherein the colored strands include at least one symbol.
 13. A spirit clip for hair, comprising: a clip body including a pair of clip elements each having at least one tine for securing the clip body to a portion of hair, wherein the clip elements are hinged-together by a pin, a spring connected with the pin and the clip body for applying force to the clip elements so that the tines may be secured to the portion of hair; and a plurality of colored strands connected with the clip body.
 14. The spirit clip of claim 13, wherein the colored strands include at least one symbol designating a respective team.
 15. The spirit clip of claim 13, wherein the colored strands are formed in a team color.
 16. The spirit clip of claim 13, wherein the colored strands include at least one symbol. 